The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1887-02-04
THE GRAIN WEEVIL.
One of the Most Destructive Insects Know
in This Country,

One of the Most Destructive Insects Known
in This Country.
A correspond ent recently inquired
how to destroy weevil that were de-
stroying his wheat in the granary.
From the nature of the inquiry I infer
that the insect in question is the an
goumois grain moth. Galecbta cerealella
(Olin), most insidious pest when it
once gains foothold in stored grain.
The perfect insect is a moth, of the
family Tineid@, genus and species as
given above. If the insect is not this
moth, but a beetle, it is undoubtedly
species of CdlaUdrG, and which ever it
be, moth or beetle, the remedies here
given are equally efficient The insects
mentioned are very destructive of stored
grain. Fortunately they have not yet
become sufficiently numerous in the
Northern States to require especial at
tentiOn. However, when they get a
lOdgment in a granary, they multiply
rapidly and do great injury. In the
Southern States they live and multiply
without hindrance from climatic causes
and attack the grain in the fields as
well as in storage, making it difficult
if not impossible to eXterminate them.
They multiply with great rapidity and
are said to normally produce five
broods in the South. Here I have known
them to produce four broOds indoors
under very favorable circumstances.
They attack wheat or corn with equal
energy, and whether stored in bulk or
loosely. The first remedy l win men,
ton, and which might be used on a
small scale, is to heat the grain in some
iron vessel to 167 degrees Fahrenheit by
a steady, slow heat, and maintain it
there for forty minutes to one hour,
which viii thoroughly destroy eggs,
Larvae or insect, and not injure the
grain. The grain should be kept
thoroughly stirred during the entire
time. A rotating cylinder is the bert
apparatus.
The only practical remedy which I
know of for use on a large scale, is to
place the grain in tight bins and use
bisulphide of carbon. tits essential that
the bottom and sides of the bin should
be tight; the top can easily be covered
with heavy cloth, as blankets, etc. The
bisulphide should be poured onto the
grain, or to insert a slotted tube closed
at the lower end and thus convey
the liquid down among the grain, adds
20 its efficiency or to the rapidity of its
effects. The amount used should be
according to the severity of the attack
and whether the insects have pene-
trated deep into the grain. The BIZ
sulphide quickly volatilizes, forming a
gas considerable heavier than air,
which, if the bin is sufficiently close,
will penetrate through its entire mass
and completely destroy all insects in
whatever stage. 1t is necessary to use
this substance with great caution, as it
is an extremely dangerous explosive if
"a light or fire of any nature is brought
near it. 1 have used it frequently and
with the best of success where the
conditions were properly observed. Il
is very generally recommended for
deahng with pests of this nature. The
b. sulphide costs usually about forty
cents pound, in bottles already fol
use, and is certainly a cheap practical
remedy William b. Ala0Ood, in Otic
Farmer